Giving through
a Will

MISSOURI SOUTHERN FOUNDATION
In Support of Missouri Southern State University

Giving through your will is one of the simplest ways to give a future gift to the College. As you and your attorney draft your will, the Missouri Southern Foundation can be included in the same manner as other beneficiaries. There are several options available to the donor as your will is drafted. Some gift giving options include:

• A pre-determined amount, "$50,000 to the Missouri Southern Foundation"

• A percentage of the estate, "35% of my estate to the Missouri Southern Foundation"

• The remainder of an estate, "after all other beneficiaries are provided for, any remainder of my estate shall go to the Missouri Southern Foundation"

• A contingent beneficiary share, "If any of the aforementioned beneficiaries pre-decease me, that share shall go to the Missouri Southern Foundation"

Donors should always contact the Foundation if they are considering giving a gift through a will. The donor may wish to restrict how the funds are used by the Foundation by designating certain departments or activities at the College as recipients of the gift. A Foundation representative will work with the donor and their attorney to ensure the gift is used as the donor wishes. There are no immediate tax advantages to the donor giving a gift through a will; there are however estate tax benefits. Assets passed to charitable organizations through your will are not subject to estate tax.

Here is one example of how a will can be used to provide a gift:

Mrs. Smith has one daughter and an aging sister. She wishes to leave part of her estate to her daughter, provide for her sister, and give a gift to Missouri Southern. Through her will Mrs. Smith will leave 50 percent of her estate to her daughter and direct the executor of her will to establish a charitable remainder annuity trust with the remaining 50 percent. The remainder annuity trust will provide an income for her sister for the remainder of her life. At the death of Mrs. Smith’s sister, all assets remaining in the trust will pass to the Foundation, providing a substantial gift to Missouri Southern.

This is only one example of how a will can be used to meet the needs of a donor. In all cases donors should consult their attorney or estate planner when considering gift giving.